The forest 'Hobbit' holes that offer glimpse of a lost world
Underneath and among the Gwydir Forest lies an industrial heritage from times gone by
The woodlands of Gwydir Forest near Llanrwst are now a playground for many and those that work here remain on the surface. But there are also remnants of a past life when the hills teamed with miners.
The ground was rich with lead ore and this would bring speculators and workers to this part of North Wales. Within the woods there are many signs of this bygone age, from the remains of the Hafna mine and processing mill to the now covered shafts hidden in the forests.
There were various mines in a tight knit section of the forest from Hafna, with its own furnace, to the Vale of Conwy Lead Mine, Parc, and Cyffty.
The industry dates back to around 1615 when Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet, had samples of lead ore from his Gwydir Estate analysed. This resulted in organised mining on the estate starting some five years later.
Mining activity in the area, in a total of around 21 mines, was to continue for some 300 years. Parc was the last operational mine, closing in 1958.
Hafna Mine and Processing Mill
The Hafna Mine has the most extensive and best preserved remains of any of the mines on the Gwydyr estate and it was once one of the most important lead mining areas in the United Kingdom. The remains include a stepped mill, incline, smelting house and round plan chimney on the western side of Bwlch yr Haearn. The mill dates from 1889-1905, it has a French design and has used water, steam and electricity. The mine is known to have last been used in 1919.
(Image: North Wales Live)1 of 12How Hafna would have looked
The Hafna Mine has the most extensive and best preserved remains of any of the mines on the Gwydyr estate.
(Image: North Wales Live)2 of 12Vale of Conwy Lead Mine
Vale of Conwy Lead Mine. The remains on the site include a crusher house with its waterwheel pit
(Image: North Wales Live)3 of 12
